Catch for ironing boards and the like



g- 1942- F. 8.- DE BROCK I I 2,293,807

CATCH FOR IRONING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 26, 1940 Patented Aug.25, 1942 CATCH FOR IRONiIgSOARDS AND- THE Francis B. De Brock, St.Albans, N. Y., assignor to Beh & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application January 26, 1940, Serial No. 315,811

6 Claims.

This invention relates to folding articles including a top, as a tabletop, and a leg structure foldable from an upright or standing positioninto a collapsed position flatwise against the under side of the top, asfor instance, a folding ironing board, and has for its object aparticularly simple and economical catch for holding the leg structurein its normal or standing position.

More specifically, it has for its object a catch including a bracketsecured to the under side of the table top and formed with an angularslot joint including horizontally and vertically extending portions, thelatter portion opening through the lower edge of the bracket, and a pincarried by one of the folding members or leg structure for entering theslot, when the table or ironing board is folded into upright or standingposition.

It further has for its object a latch carried by the bracket andarranged to interlock with the pin when in the horizontal portion of theslot.

It further has for its object the features hereinafter described andpointed out in the claims.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. 7

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a folding ironing board embodying thisinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the catch in sideelevation.

Figure 3 is an inverted fragmentary plan view looking upwardly in Figure2.

The invention is here shown as embodied in a folding ironing board.

.I designates the table top. The folding leg structure, in so far asthis invention is concerned, may be of any suitable structure. That hereshown includes a plurality of folding members, as leg members 2, 3, andbrace members 4, 5 and folding links 6. There are two leg members 2 atopposite sides of one end of the table top, these being hinged at I tothe table top. The leg member 3 is a single member so that legs 2, 3form something of a tripod formation. The brace member 4 is pivoted at 8to the link 6. It is bifurcated, as shown in Figure 3, and thebifurcations I thereof extend on opposite sides of the leg 3 and onopposite sides of the bracket of the catch to be presently described,when the table is in upright position. The brace member 5 is alsopivoted at 8 to the link 6 and at II to the midway between the ends ofthe table top and midway between the sides of the table top, the bracketbeing formed with an angular slot having a horizontally extendingportion I3 and a vertically extending portion I4, the latter extendingthrough the lower edge of the bracket I2, this slot being for thepurpose of receiving a pin I5 extending between the bifurcations I0 ofthe brace member 4. The catch further includes a latch I 6 pivoted tothe bracket and extending lengthwise of the horizontal portion I3 of theslot and being formed with ratchet teeth IT for receiving the pin I5,when the pin enters the horizontal portion I3 in the slot. This latch ispivoted to the bracket and is preferably a gravity latch so as to fallinto engagement with the pin I5 when the leg structure is folded intoupright position and to fall out of engagement with the pin I5 when thetable is turned upside down or tipped or tilted out of standing positionpreliminary to collapsing the leg structure fiatwise against the lowerside of the table top, although the legs may be collapsed into thisposition without tipping or turning the table upside down, it beingprovided with a finger engaging portion at The bracket is preferablystruck up from sheet metal in the form of a channel with the bottom ofthe channel flatwise against the under side of the top I and securedthereto, as by fastening members I9. The upper end of the leg 3 extendsbetween the side flanges of the channel formation and is pivoted theretoby a pin or rivet 2!! extending transversely through the side flanges ofthe channel formation! and the upper end of the leg 3. The angular slotsare formed in opposite side flanges of the channel formation. Also, inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention,

the latch I6 is pivotally mounted on the pin 20 and extends along theouter side of one of the side flanges of the channel formation of thebracket I2 lengthwise of the horizontal portion I3 of the slot in saidside flange. It is mounted on an enlargement 2| of the pivot pin 20(Figure 3) adjacent the head of the pivot pin 20.

The latch I6 is formed with a shoulder portion 22 near its pivot, thisshoulder portion extending crosswise of the inner end of the verticallyextending portion M of the angular slot, in position to be encounteredby the pin l5, as the pin is :passing from the vertically extendingportion I4 into the horizontally extending portion [3 of the slot, andthis action lifts the: latch [6 to permit the pin to move along thehorizontal portion l3 of the slot and be held from retrograde movementwhile so passing by the ratchet teeth ll.

The pivot 20 is located at one end of the bracket and the other end ofthe bracket is formed with a. rounding or cam surface 24. Undue movementof the latch it on its pivot is limited by a stop or tongue 25 struck upfrom one of the side flanges of the channel formation of the bracket l2.

In operation, the leg structure lies folded flatwise against the bottomof the table top I. In setting up the table into upright position, thetable top may be completely inverted with the legs up, tipped orinclined toward inverted position, and the leg structure unfolded bypulling the legs 2 or 3 to extended position. During this operation, thebrace member 4 will fall by gravity toward the table top and as the legs2, 3 are straightened, will move along the under side of the table topand engage the pin with the cam or guide surface 24 on the bracket l2,and guide it into the vertically extending portion I4 of the slot, andthence into the horizontally extending portion I3. When the table top isin either of the inverted or inclined positions, the latch IE will fallby gravity out of position to obstruct the entrance of the pin I5 intothe horizontally extending portion l3 of the slot. When the table isplaced upright, the latch will fall into engagement with the pin l5. Ifthe latch is held by friction, or otherwise, from this movement, the pin15 will engage the shoulder 22 and move the latch into such positionthat it does not obstruct the horizontally extending portion l3 of theslot.

The table may be collapsed by the reverse of these movements, and whenthe table is inverted in inclined position preliminary to collapsing theleg structure, the latch it will move by gravity out ofeng-agement withthe pin l5. However, the table may be collapsed by lifting the latch I6out of its normal position by pressing the finger into engagement withthe finger-piece l8 and collapsing the legs to move the pin 15 out ofthe angular slots.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding article including a table top and a leg structurefoldable from standing position into a position flatwise against the topand including a plurality of members, the combination of a catch forholding the leg structure in standing position including a bracketsecured to the under side of the top, one of the members of the foldingleg structure being pivoted to the bracket, and another of said membershaving a pin movable into interlocking engagement with the bracket whenthe leg structure assumes 'a standing position, the bracket being formedwith an angular slot having substantially horizontally and verticallyextending portions for receiving the pin, the vertical portion openingthrough the lower edge of the bracket, and a latch carried by thebracket and extending lengthwise of the horizontal portion of the slotfor interlocking with said pin, said latch being pivoted to the bracketto move in one direction crosswise of the horizontal slot by gravitywhen the article is in upright position and to move in the otherdirection out of interlocking engagement with the pin by gravity whenthe ironing board is tipped out of upright position for the purpose ofcollapsing the leg structure.

2. In a folding article including a table top and a leg structurefoldable from standing position into a position flatwise against the topand including a plurality of members, the combination of a. catch forholding the leg structure in standing position including a bracketsecured to the under side of the top, one of the members of the foldingleg structure being pivoted to the bracket, and another of said membershaving a pin movable into interlocking engagement with the bracket whenthe leg structure assumes a standing position, the bracket being formedwith an angular slot having substantially horizontally and verticallyextending portions for receiving the pin, the vertical portion openingthrough the lower edge of the bracket, and a latch carried by thebracket and extending lengthwise of -the horizontal portion of the slotfor interlocking with said pin, the latch being pivoted to the bracketcoaxially with the leg structure member which is pivoted to the bracket.

3. In a folding article including a table top-and a leg structurefoldable from upright position into a position flatwise against the topand in cluding a plurality of members, the combination of a catch forholding the leg structure in standing position including a bracket inthe form of a channel secured with the bottom of the channel structureagainst the under side of the top, 'each of the side flanges of thechannel formation being formed with an angular slot having substantiallyhorizontally and vertically extending pertions, the vertical portionopening through the lower edge of the flange, one of the members of theleg structure extending between the side flanges of the bracket andbeing pivoted thereto, another member of the leg structure beingblfurcated and formed with a pin extending through the bifurcations, thebifurcations extending on opposite sides of the member pivoted to thebracket and being located to move ast'r'ide the bracket and cause thepin 'to enter the vertical portions of the angular slots and pass intothe horizontal portions, when the leg structure is moved into standingposition, and a latch pivotally mounted on the pivot of the legstructure member which is pivoted to the bracket, said latch extendingalong one of the side flanges of the bracket lengthwise of thehorizontal portion of the slot in said flange and coactin'g with the pinwhen the pin is in the horizontal portion of the slot.

4. In a folding article including a table top and a leg structurefoldable from upright position into a position flatwise against the topand including a plurality of members, the combination of a catch forholding the leg structure in standing position including a bracket inthe form of a channel secured with the bottom of 'the channel structureagainst the under side of the being bifurcated and-formed *with-a'pinextending through the bifurcations, the bifurcations extending onopposite sides of the member pivoted to the bracket and being located tomove astride the bracket and cause the pin to enter the verticalportions of the angular slots and pass into the horizontal portions,when the leg structure is moved into standing position, and a latchpivotally mounted on the pivot of the leg structure member which ispivoted to the bracket, said latch extending along one of the sideflanges of the bracket lengthwise of the horizontal portion of the slotin said flange and coacting with the pin when the pin is in thehorizontal portion of the slot, the latch being provided with ratchetteeth for coacting with the pin and also having a shoulder portionextending crosswise of the vertical portion of the slot with which thepin engages to move the latch when the pin enters a horizontal portionof the slot from the vertical portion.

5. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having frontand rear ends and an under surface, a front leg structure and a rear legstructure pivoted on the board for movement from a collapsed position insubstantial parallelism with the under surface of the board to aposition of extension away from the board, a rear leg brace structurehaving a free forward end, and a rear end pivoted to the rear legstructure, said free forward end being directed obliquely toward theunder surface of the board in the extended condition of the legstructures, and means for maintaining an extended condition of the legstructures, including a keeper on the forward end of the rear leg bracestructure and a shiftable latch on the under surface of the boardself-operated by gravity to engage the keeper when the board is tiltedtoward the horizontal, and to release its grip upon the keeper when theboard is stood upright upon its rear end and inclined toward thevertical, and guide means associated with the latch for restraining thefree forward end of the rear leg brace structure against swingingmovement about the pivots at the rear end of said brace structure whilethe grip of the latch upon the free forward end is released.

6. An ironing table which comprises in combination, a board having frontand rear ends and an under surface, a leg structure pivoted on the boardfor movement from a collapsed position in substantial parallelism withthe under surface of the board to a position of extension away from theboard, a leg brace structure having a free end, and an opposite endpivoted to the leg structure, said free end being directed obliquelytowardthe under surface of the board in the extended condition of theleg structure, and means for maintaining an extended condition of theleg structure, including a keeper on the free end of the leg bracestructure and a shiftable latch on the under surface of the boardself-operated by gravity to engage the keeper when the board is tiltedtoward the horizontal, and to release its grip upon the keeper when theboard is stood upright upon its rear end and inclined toward thevertical, and guide means associated with the latch for restraining thefree end of the leg brace structure against swinging movement about thepivots at the opposite end of said brace structure while the grip of thelatch upon the free end thereof is released.

FRANCIS B. DE BROOK.

